DIY Network

Living Room / Dining Room: Overview From "DIY Lighting Design" episode DLTD-101

Living Room

In this first segment, guest Doug Weiss helps host Denise Dillon access the lighting in the living room and dining rooms of a 1920s bungalow that was just remodeled -- image at right.

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• The focal point of the living room is this beautiful fireplace and mantel (figure A). "It's very dark," Weiss says, "but the fireplace is great and the platter [the centerpiece] is also wonderful but together they are a very cold statement. We have a shiny surface on a stone surface, so I would add something warmer like a painting with rich warm colors that would add light and color to the room. I think a large-scale candle on either side would add that warmth to the room."

• To the left side of the fireplace in front of the window is a glass table and a plant (figure B) that Weiss would replace with a small love seat perhaps with tables on either side that could be part of a conversation area, with lamps on top of the tables in order to add more light to the room.

• One of the best features of the room is a bookcase (figure C), but it's treasures are hidden by a floor lamp, which Weiss would replace with lights inside the bookcase so the light would transpire through the whole bookcase. But this floor lamp was utilized as a reading light when sitting in the chair that's in front of the bookcase and beside the fireplace. Weiss suggests that the homeowners put the lights in the bookcase and a cozy smaller "reading" light beside the chair.

  Figure A

  Figure B

  Figure C

  
  
• The only other light source in the room is the majestic ceiling light and fan (figure D). Weiss said he would leave the light alone because it's a "great piece" that gives off a subtle glow. It doesn't need to be any brighter with the added lighting to the room.

• The homeowners have had a black rug on the floor for a couple of years, and Weiss says it isn't too inviting when you walk into the room. He suggests that a light-colored rug would be more inviting and warm up and lighten the space.

• Over next to and on the wall is a piece of furniture and a mirror (figure E). "I would add a lamp here," Weiss says, because there's no lighting around this area.

• The dining room (figure F) is a big room with big furniture, which feels a little cold and almost unfriendly. "It's a little heavy in this room," Weiss says. "I think we need to lighten this room up so let's start with the light fixture," which is one of the first things you see when you walk in the room (note, in the photo -- figure F). The globes are green and there's a lot of green in the room, and there isn't much light emitting from the room. Not that you need a whole lot of light in the room, but Weiss says to place a light, opaque globe on the lighting fixture the room would appear lighter and fresher. The green walls are a little too dark, so Weiss thinks they could go a shade or two lighter as well to brighten the room. Fortunately, the dining room does have a couple of windows on one side, but because the neighbor's house is right there, the homeowners keep the blinds closed. "I don't think these windows are a great opportunity for a light source in the room," Weiss says. "I think our light opportunity comes with lamps on the sideboard." He says if the homeowners get a lighter lamp with a lighter-colored shade, it would be softer, warmer and lighter.

  Figure D

  Figure E

  Figure F

  
  
• The painting (figure G) on the wall of the dining room is beautiful, but it's too dark so it definitely needs to be lit. With a picture light from above that will just light the painting the homeowners would create a nice focal point when you walk into the room.

• One more big piece of furniture in the room is a cabinet (figure H), which needs some light. The good news is that it has glass on three sides so some rope lights can be added on the inside as well as under each shelf. This would make the cabinet another focal point of the room. Also, Weiss suggests that some height and light could be added with large-scale candles.

• Beside the cabinet in the corner of the room (figure I), there's only a plant, a small table and no light at all. Weiss says some uplighting for the plant would work well. "It would cast shadows on the wall," which would add a dramatic and appropriate effect to the dining room.

  The homeowners are considering putting in dimmers, and one last suggestion by Weiss is to do a run on the floor with a light rug.

In the next segment, Dillon and the workers begin the process of lighting up this bungalow home!

Figure G

Figure H

Figure I

RESOURCES :

Lighting Products for Living Room / Dining Room Episode

4" recessed can hole saw
SKU: 530-814)

Eyeball Recessed Can
Halo 4" non-IC remodel housing
SKU: 523-138

Halo spot light (40 watt R-16)
SKU: 352-683

White mini eyeball trim
SKU: 797-027

Remodeling box
SKU: 202-460

Outlet
SKU: 221-826

Switch
SKU: 614-032

Switchplate
SKU: 616-363

Wire
SKU: 376-537

Glass cut for shelves

Rope lighting
Hampton Bay Rope Lighting Kit
6' SKU: 361-682
2' SKU: 360-779

Hampton Bay Mounting Clips
SKU: 405-292

Lutron Dimmer Switch with Toggle
600 watt SKU: 253-683

Wallplate
SKU: 223-401

Picture Light
House of Troy (battery operated)
SKU: 819-187 (Expo)

Halogen plant light with spike
SKU: 407-311

14" tropical foliage
SKU: 601-810

Ivy
SKUs: 904-473 and SKU 626-558

Sideboard lamps
Murray Feiss bronze buffet lamps
SKU: 226-808 (Expo)

GUESTS :

Douglas Weiss
Douglas Weiss Interiors
Atlanta, GA
Phone: 404-875-5544
E-mail: doug@douglasweiss.com

Peter Brannigan

PB Construction
Decatur, GA
Phone: 404-379-3512
E-mail: bluekobalt@aol.com

Reg Massey
PB Construction
Decatur, GA
Phone: 404-379-3512
E-mail: bluekobalt@aol.com